Badge to the Bone

09/02/2025

🤣🤣

07/02/2025

Great piece on how the job of the first responder impacts families.

Thank you to our friend Beth Salmo of Thin Line Counseling in Missouri for sharing this.

https://sgproductions.substack.com/p/the-silent-weight-how-the-first-responders?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwY2xjawISckdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdkbCMEhnNd0D8Nrym1cx9t7Th663ccmxIAN5-914FLYQXPS2C0nUmbQYA_aem_7bllj03udoLcLeWJzk6onA&triedRedirect=true

By Suzz Sandalwood | This culture of sacrifice sometimes leads to a deep, often unspoken fracture in family dynamics.

29/01/2025

If you are a Virginia public safety employee eligible for VRS hazardous duty supplement or a retired employee already collecting one PLEASE let your voice be heard on this.

We are posting to urge you to lend your support to Budget Amendment SB 800 484 , which has been introduced by Senator Foy. This amendment represents a critical step forward in enhancing the financial stability and well-being of our retired law enforcement officers who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our communities.

The proposed amendment seeks to increase the Hazardous Duty Supplement, a vital benefit provided to employees retiring with at least 20 years of hazardous duty service credit. Specifically, this amendment proposes:

An increase in the supplement from the current $1,407 per month to $1,800 per month in the first year.

A further increase from $1,800 to $2,200 per month in the second year.

These increases are designed to address the growing costs of living and ensure that retired officers can afford essential expenses, including family health care plans provided by the state. The rising cost of health care has placed an undue financial burden on many of our retirees, and this adjustment would offer much-needed relief and stability to those who have dedicated their careers to public safety.

Your voice and support are crucial in ensuring that this amendment is passed. By standing together, we can demonstrate to our elected officials the importance of honoring the commitments made to our retired officers. I encourage each of you to complete this action campaign, urging your legislators to support Budget Amendment SB 800 484 . Let them know that this increase is not just about financial compensation—it’s about recognizing the sacrifices and dedication of those who have served in hazardous duty roles.

Thank you for your continued service and for standing together as we advocate for this important cause.

Campaign Link:
https://fastdemocracy.com/campaigns/4ACvQ4A1m/SB-800-Budget-Amendment-484--5s-Virginia-Senate-Bill-Enhanced-Hazardous-Duty-Supplement

26/01/2025

22/01/2025

100%

Joint IACP-FOP Statement on the
Recent Presidential Pardons

https://fop.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pr-20250121-joint-statement-on-pardons.pdf

20/01/2025

“In a statement, the White House said the commutation will enable Peltier to spend his remaining days in home confinement.”

Dying peacefully in their beds after a long life was a privilege that Peltier did not afford the two FBI agents he killed.

The commutation will allow Peltier, who has long maintained his innocence in the killing of two FBI agents, to spend his remaining days in home confinement.

18/01/2025

This is what happens when politics and optics take precedent over facts. Matters of justice require careful examination NOT a rubber stamp and shoot it down the pipeline. We usually try to avoid discussions of partisan politics as part of what we do but damn if this administration hasn’t found one more way to let down our profession before they leave.

Governor Glenn Youngkin, 74th Governor of Virginia

25/12/2024

A very Merry Christmas from us to all of you. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. It means the world. May you all have a joyous holiday and we will see you after the New Year.

Denny and Al

24/12/2024

Denny and I have made this a tradition every Christmas Eve day. We go sit with our brother, smoke a cigar, have a couple drinks and some conversation both with him and each other. We hope he would be proud of how we have tried to carry on.

Merry Christmas Barrett. Slainte brother.

23/12/2024

S4, Episode 8, Treat Your People Like People!

Denny and Al talk with Jeanne Grubbs, widow of Cpl. Robert Wayne "Grubby," Grubbs. Cpl. Grubbs took his own life February 24th, 2021. Jeanne displays enormous resiliency in the wake of this tragedy. She shares her story with the hope of helping other first-responders. This story cannot overstate the importance of agencies treating their people like people and how poor leadership plays a significant role in first-responder wellness.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZItw1pSsJcSQ4eGwBnecm

20/11/2024

Truth

~ Legion

11/11/2024

Thank you to all our vets.

06/11/2024

Denny turns 50 today!
Let’s wish him a
happy birthday.

23/10/2024

Dear Followers and Supporters,

We just wanted to take a minute to apologize as episodes this season are not getting released as fast as we'd like. Real life, both personal and professional, has seen fit to slow us down from where we usually prefer to be at this point in the season. We know we have folks out there that really look forward to us dropping episodes every two weeks on schedule. We've heard from those folks and believe me when we say your love and support means more to us than we could ever say. Trust me we are working to get back on track.

On a positive note our off-air time has been busy. September had us presenting at the First Responder Wellness Conference in Norfolk and attending the VALE Foundation Wellness Fair. October has had us attending the Pipe Hitters Union MC poker run and the Brews Brothers dinner and fundraiser at Three Crosses Distillery. We are incredibly grateful for all of that love and support.

Finally we have largely finalized the business aspects of running a podcast. We never really intended on becoming a business and not that we're actually making any real money. Just trying to be responsible adults here. LOL! We are also looking to update our website and (fingers crossed) make some kind of a jump to YouTube. Those things depend on how well two middle-aged former cops can figure out the technical aspects of that stuff but, its moving forward. First world problems and all....

If you had asked us in Spring 2023 would we be where we are now we don't think we would have believed it but here we are. Again, we want to thank everyone for their continued support and encouragement.

All the best,

Denny and Al